Rs 3,000 cr investment for new pharma institutes

The Department of Pharmaceuticals has envisaged an investment Rs 3,000 crore to set up ten more National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) over the next five years in to enhance availability of skilled human resources in the pharma sector.

The proposal to set up ten additional NIPERs is one of the many proposals, worth Rs 12,280 crore, that have been submitted to the Planning Commission by the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) under the 12th Five Year Plan.

"One of the proposals is to set up ten more NIPERs. We have submitted the proposals to the Planning Commission. Now, how many proposals are accepted is their take," Department of Pharmaceuticals Joint Secretary Devendra Chaudhry told PTI.

DoP intends to invest Rs 3,000 crore to set up the ten NIPERS and the locations for the same would be finalised only after the acceptance of proposals by Planning Commission, Chaudhry said.

The government has already set up six NIPERs at Patna, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Rae Bareli, Guwahati and Kolkata.

Commenting on the proposals submitted to the Planning Commission, Chaudhry said "these will help to strengthen industry, human resources, R&D, regulatory organisations and also to strengthen DoP,".

Giving details of the plan, he said part of the amount would be given as loans to the small and medium enterprises to help them achieve standards of various regulators, including the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA).

"Some of the amount would also be utilised to help Indian companies to develop products for export markets," he said.

The DoP has also proposed to invest Rs 200 crore over the next five years to strengthen the 'Jan Aushadhi' scheme. As part of the campaign, the department would spread awareness regarding the usage of unbranded drugs, Chaudhry added.

Cheaper unbranded generic medicines have been made available through Jan Aushadhi stores. Currently, 107, such stores have been opened in various states in the country.

The department has also proposed to set up Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) compliant chemical, biological laboratories and large animal facilities in Public Private Partnership mode.

"In all this, industry needs to come out strongly and equitably for participation," Chaudhry said.